Leica Q Typ 116

The Leica Q Typ 116, released in 2015, is a compact camera built around a full-frame sensor. That pairing of a large sensor with a small fixed body is its defining idea, and it shapes everything else about owning one.

It measures 130 x 80 x 93mm and weighs 640g with a lens that cannot be swapped. There is no bag of lenses to plan for, which simplifies travel, but the focal length you buy is the one you keep.

Ownership is fairly traditional. Expect a short battery rating, no wireless transfer and no weather protection, so this suits a photographer who favours a single, self-contained package over modern conveniences.

The Q Typ 116's optical score of 72 sits in the top 21% of cameras in our database for optics. The core of that result is a 24.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor paired with the Maestro II processor, which gives you plenty of resolution for large prints and room to crop while keeping detail.

The stills specification supports varied shooting. A 10fps maximum burst rate helps with brief moments of action, the 1/16000 maximum shutter speed is useful in bright light, and an ISO range of 100 to 50000 extends from daylight into dim interiors.

Autofocus offers 49 points for placing your subject. There is no in-body stabilisation, so in low light you lean on faster shutter speeds, higher ISO settings or a support rather than the camera smoothing out camera shake.

The fixed lens means the whole optical package is designed as one unit, with no mount decisions to make. Framing is done through a 3.68 million dot electronic viewfinder, detailed enough to judge focus and composition confidently before you shoot.

The video score of 70 is good, though the recording specification is straightforward. The camera records video up to Full HD resolution, and its highest available frame rate is 60fps. This is enough for everyday clips, web content and family footage, but not for anyone whose workflow needs 4K output.

Recording is saved in MP4, a widely used format that most playback devices and editing programs support. That keeps sharing and reviewing your footage simple.

A built-in timelapse mode adds a creative option without extra gear or intervalometer accessories. Since the camera lacks in-body stabilisation, timelapse work on a tripod is unaffected, but handheld video benefits from steady technique or a support.

Handling centres on a fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with touch control and just over a million dots. Touch input speeds up menus and settings, and live view previews exposure before you press the shutter.

For composing, the electronic viewfinder is the more detailed display at 3.68 million dots, which helps when checking focus precisely. Because the rear screen does not flip, waist-level or overhead shooting means relying on the eyepiece or a fixed viewing angle.

There is no built-in flash, but an external flash unit is supported. Photographers who shoot interiors or portraits can add a proper flashgun, while anyone wanting occasional fill light will need to carry one.

The features score of 57 reflects a modest equipment list. The touch screen and display earn points, while Bluetooth and weather sealing add nothing. Wi-Fi and GPS are absent, so there is no wireless transfer or location tagging.

The storage and battery score of 16 is limited, and the reasons are practical ones. Storage is a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card slot, so there is no second card for overflow or a copy of the day's take. For an important shoot, carrying spare cards matters more than it would on a two-slot camera.

The BP-DC12 battery is rated at 300 shots, a specification figure rather than a promise for every situation. That low rating makes a spare battery a sensible part of the kit for anything beyond a short outing.

There is no USB charging either, which removes the option of topping up from a laptop or power bank over USB. Planning means setting batteries to charge in advance rather than relying on opportunistic top-ups during the day.